She faces trial on August 27 for sharing a photo on X of herself in a T-shirt that read: “Allah is lesbian.”
For this, she now sits in a prison cell—while thousands who issued death and rape threats against her online remain free. The decision to keep her in prison is particularly cruel given her fragile health. As a cancer survivor, she requires consistent medical attention that cannot be guaranteed in detention, placing her life in further jeopardy.
Betty is being prosecuted for “insulting Islam”, a blasphemy charge rooted in Morocco’s oppressive religious laws that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. Meanwhile in Morocco, homosexuality is illegal under Article 489 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes “lewd or unnatural acts” between individuals of the same sex.
Betty’s arrest is a grotesque violation of human rights and a chilling reminder of how apostates, atheists, feminists, and queer dissidents continue to be persecuted under the guise of “protecting religion.” That’s why on Apostasy Day this year, we are demanding Betty’s freedom and calling for an end to the systemic criminalization, silencing, and violence against people who question, challenge and leave religion. This is not just about a social media post or t-shirt—it’s apostophobia in action and yet another religiously-motivated attack on our collective rights to freely think, speak and express ourselves.
For this, she now sits in a prison cell—while thousands who issued death and rape threats against her online remain free. The decision to keep her in prison is particularly cruel given her fragile health. As a cancer survivor, she requires consistent medical attention that cannot be guaranteed in detention, placing her life in further jeopardy.
Betty is being prosecuted for “insulting Islam”, a blasphemy charge rooted in Morocco’s oppressive religious laws that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. Meanwhile in Morocco, homosexuality is illegal under Article 489 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes “lewd or unnatural acts” between individuals of the same sex.
Betty’s arrest is a grotesque violation of human rights and a chilling reminder of how apostates, atheists, feminists, and queer dissidents continue to be persecuted under the guise of “protecting religion.” That’s why on Apostasy Day this year, we are demanding Betty’s freedom and calling for an end to the systemic criminalization, silencing, and violence against people who question, challenge and leave religion. This is not just about a social media post or t-shirt—it’s apostophobia in action and yet another religiously-motivated attack on our collective rights to freely think, speak and express ourselves.
#FreeBetty: Take Action on Apostasy Day and beyond
We are calling on all freedom defenders, organizers, content creators, and allies around the world to join Ex-Muslims on Apostasy Day and beyond to:
- Demand the immediate release of Betty in Morocco by urgently contacting lawmakers, leaders and changemakers
- Put international pressure on Morocco and theocratic governments everywhere to uphold human rights, not religious dogma
- Commit to secularism and push for an end to all apostasy and blasphemy laws everywhere
- Share art, music, posters and creative content on social media in support of apostasy, blasphemy and freedom for Betty
- Post a video with your message of solidarity with Betty, her incredible work with MALI (Mouvement alternatif pour les libertés individuelles) which she co-founded, and the human rights and freedoms she stands for
- Coordinate and join protests at Moroccan embassies on August 27
- Use relevant hashtags: #FreeBetty #ApostasyDay #EndApostophobia
- Visit apostophobia.com and share widely
Betty is a trailblazing activist and co-founder of MALI (Mouvement alternatif pour les libertés individuelles). For years, she has fought on the frontlines for the rights of women, youth, LGBTQ+ people, and nonbelievers, and for the normalization of blasphemy and apostasy as forms of freedom—not crimes. Her arrest is a direct attack on those values—and on all of us.
Apostasy Day was started in 2020 by Ex-Muslims International Coalition organisations to defend the right to leave religion and coincides with the UN International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. Betty is a survivor of state violence, religious repression, and institutional misogyny. We unequivocally stand with her and demand her immediate and unconditional freedom.
Contact & Info
Ex-Muslim International at contact@ex-muslims.international
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain: exmuslimcouncil@gmail.com
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